R.I.P. Air America

The lone talk-radio network on the left of the dial is signing off for good today. Air America has struggled financially since its inception as a liberal alternative to the Conservative ranting of Clear Channel, Rush Limbaugh, and Fox News Radio. But it seems that lefties don’t listen to talk radio.

I’m curious about the implication of this for radio’s demographics. Does this mean that liberals listen to music stations, or is it they just don’t do terrestrial radio? Maybe, given the popularity of Fox News on cable TV, Conservatives are just more plugged in to broadcast media in general. I don’t know. But it does seem a shame that we’ve lost the solitary balancing voice on the air.

Still, Air America can credit itself with launching the careers of Al Franken, Ana Marie Cox, and my personal favorite Rachel Maddow.

It was a good run, but all good things must come to an end. Which maybe explains why Limbaugh and Beck will be on the radio forever.